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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What group of people does the author think has the worst type of writing?
(a) Teachers.
(b) Politicians.
(c) Toddlers.
(d) Musicians.

2. Has the period of political euphemisms improved since the Vietnam War?
(a) Yes, politicians know how to unclutter their writing now.
(b) Yes, politicians hire better speech writers.
(c) No, it has gotten worse.
(d) No, it is the same.

3. How does a thesaurus help with brainstorming?
(a) There are pictures of mindmaps within each thesaurus.
(b) Looking up a word leads to a list of related words and gives overal word choices and concepts.
(c) The book gives a list of unrelated words that weeds out the bad choices.
(d) The book provides brainstorming exercises.

4. Why do journalists need to perfect uncluttered writing?
(a) It is easier to sell.
(b) It make their writing easier to read.
(c) People only pay attention to short articles.
(d) They have a limited number of column inches and word limits.

5. Why is the English language changing all the time?
(a) It changes because academics choose the best ways to speak English and try to teach that to children.
(b) It changes because of regional differences that make their way outwards.
(c) It changes because it is a living language.
(d) It changes because people don't know how to speak it properly and are changing the way it is spoken.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who are two authors that Zissner admires for solid writing and ornamentation?

2. Can a writer simply write the article with one interview?

3. What are two tools every writer should use?

4. How rigid are the lines between proper and improper English usage?

5. What are some limitations of perfect grammar?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what point of view should a writer start writing? Why?

2. Who does Zinsser say are the worst writers guilty of clutter?

3. Why are interviews so important to an article?

4. Why are writers fearful to insert their own opinions, ideas, and judgments in their own writing?

5. What becomes of a finished article that nobody reads?

6. Do gimmicks usually work in good writing?

7. Does Zinsser believe it is important for an author's personality to shine through his or her writing?

8. How much information should a writer gather before writing a piece? Why is it important?

9. Why are thesauri so good for brainstorming?

10. What does the craft of writing consist of?

(see the answer keys)

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